AUSTRALIAN SHOWDOWN

Southland Times, Issue 24828, 21 August 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SHOWDOWN

OPPOSITION AND GOVERNMENT (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 20. The Prime Minister, Mr John Curtin, has made it clear tliat his outburst against “political sniping” is intended as a direct challenge to the Opposition. In a second statement Mr Curtin has repeated his declaration that any war-time Government is entitled to the support of both Parliament and the people unless Parliament is prepared to take the responsibility of changing the Government. The latest developments in Australia’s political crisis include: — (1) A declaration by Mr Curtin that his administration was the best Australia could produce at present. (2) A claim by the Curtin Government that critics should not make publicly criticisms that will be monitored by Tokyo. (3) An announcement by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr A. W. Fadden, that the Opposition, while not wishing to embarrass the Government, would not remain silent “regarding cases of administrative ineptitude and abuse of power such as have occurred since Labour assumed office.”

The first major showdown in the crisis is expected when the Advisory War Council meets late next week, but most political observers do not believe

that a Federal election is imminent. Despite Mr Curtin’s challenge there is still no suggestion that the Opposition will make a serious attempt by the introduction of a censure motion to defeat the Government when Parliament meets next month.

POINTS OF CRITICISM However, the subjects on which the Government is likely to be strongly attacked include:— (1) The censorship. (2) Overseas subjects. (3) Failure to introduce compulsory war loans.

(4) Allegations of bungling and party political bias by the Minister for the War Organization of Industry, Mr J. J. Dedman, and the Minister of Labour, Mr E. J. Ward. Although the administration holds office only by the support of two Independent members, the chances of Mr Curtin resigning are remote. His statements are a challenge to the Opposition to oust him rather than a hint that he may throw in the towel. It is generally conceded that Labour would welcome an election now, while the Opposition prefers to wait until next year in the prospect that there will be a swing away from Labour. However, the next parliamentary session is expected to be the stormiest since the Fadden Government fell last October. Mr Curtin has again denied that there is a political censorship in Australia. “If something is said in this country which the people have a right to know, but which, if cabled abroad, might cause misunderstanding with Allied countries, do you not believe . there should be some salutary authority to prevent mischief being brought about among the Allies?” he asked. Mr Curtin added that when Australia wanted more aeroplanes, munitions and supplies there was a proper way for him to go about it as Prime Minister. That way wgs not by bitter public controversy, but by a straight, quiet intimation to the heads of the Governments of other United Nations. COALITION ADVOCATED The political crisis has resulted in renewed wide appeals for an all-party Federal Administration. The Sydney Morning Herald says: “Mr Curtin has earned the gratitude and support of most Australians during the past nine months because of his obvious endeavour to fulfil his pledge that the Labour Party would not use its tenancy of office tc implement purely party politics. That he has not wholly succeeded is due to the simple fact that his Government rests on a strictly party basis. This situation is neither the wish nor the responsibility of the present Opposition, which has repeatedly expressed its readiness to enter an all-party Government dedicated to the sole purpose of waging war with the utmost efficiency, constancy and vigour.” The paper says no one is more fitted to lead an all-party Government than Mr Curtin, but that “he cannot claim the uniform support which only an all-party Government can expect while he himself is clinging to a single party Cabinet.”

The Australian Newspaper Proprietors’ Association passed a resolution recording its grave disturbance “by the recent tendencies and actions of the censorship authority and protests against the use of the censorship for any other reasons than those of national security.”